326. Infanterie Division
The division was raised in November 1942. It was made a static division for the occupation of France. Initially it was in southern France, but from February 1944 it was located in the area of 15. Armee. During the spring it was upgraded slightly in mobility.1
The structure of the division was2:
Authorized strength for the division was 11 912 and on 1 May 1944 it was short of only 93 men.3 It seems that the infantry battalions each had 56 machine guns and eight 8 cm mortars. The Füs.Btl. was similarly equipped.4
The Pz.Jäg.Abt. had fourteen Marder 38, ten StuG III and twelve light Flak guns.5 The assault guns were often referred to as 1326. StuG.Abt. It seems that the assault guns were organized in such a way that they could be sent away on independent missions if needed.
As shown above the artillery batteries were numbered in a peculiar way. Batteries 1, 2 and four each had four Russian 12,2 cm howitzers; batteries 5, 6 and 8 each had four 10,5 cm le.FH 16; batteries 9, 10 and 12 each had four Russian 12,2 cm guns.6
On 20 June the division had a ration strength of 11 533.7 Ten days later it had 32 heavy Pak (including Marders and StuG).8
The division remained in the Pas-de-Calais area until mid July. It was reported on 22 July that elements of the division had crossed the Seine river.9 One day later the Füs.Btl. was already in the front line and the remainder was approaching.10 The division relieved 2. Pz.Div.11
During July the division remained in the Caumont area. During mid August it was rather far to the west. Possibly the casualties suffered during its actions in Normandy amounted to about 6 000, but this is just an estimate.
Notes:
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1 |
G. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1966-1975). |
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2 |
Main source is Anlagen zum KTB LXXXII. A.K. Zustandmeldung 326. Inf.Div., Stand 1.5.44, T314, R1602, F000126. This source show that there was an extra AT company (numbered 15) in each infantry regiment. However, according to Tessin, these were dissolved at the beginning of June. Also the Stoart AOK 15 Nr. 629/44 g.Kdos, Art.Gliederung der 15. Armee, Stand vom 1.6.44, T312, R516, F8115287ff has been used for the artillery regiment. |
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3 |
Anlagen zum KTB LXXXII. A.K. Zustandmeldung 326. Inf.Div., Stand 1.5.44, T314, R1602, F000126. |
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4 |
Ibid. |
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5 |
Ibid. |
|
6 |
Stoart AOK 15 Nr. 629/44 g.Kdos, Art.Gliederung der 15. Armee, Stand vom 1.6.44, T312, R516, F8115287ff. |
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7 |
KTB 81. A.K., Anlagen, Verpflegungs- und Gefechtstärken, Stand 20.6.44, T314, R1602, F000460. |
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8 |
Übersicht der Ausstattung mit s.Pak u. Stu.Gesch., Stand 30.6, Anlage zu AOK 15 - 500/44 geh (Stopak), T312, R516, F8115326. |
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9 |
OB West Ia Nr. 5911/44 g.Kdos, vom 22.7.44, T 311, R28, F7034717. |
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10 |
OB West Ia Nr. 5939/44 g.Kdos, 23.7.44, T311, R28, F7034743ff. |
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11 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 517/44 geh. von 22.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 21.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |